2011 Annual Report

Dr. Guang-Ji Wang stands before the poster
of his poem on display in the Wenzhou
Medical College Museum
A wedding reception in Wenzhou
Drs. Guang-Ji Wang, Clifford Scott, Lu Fan, and
Xu Dan at WMC
Embroidery from Wenzhou
Dr. Scott welcomes optometry students to the
2011 National Symposium
Dr. Guang-Ji Wang supervises U.S. students at
the Wenzhou Medical College (WMC)
Former NECO President Dr. Larry Clausen
and WMC President Dr. Qu Jia are joined by
colleagues to celebrate 50 years of the college
A Pagoda in Wenzhon
THE ROAD AHEAD
NECO plans to expand and
enhance the Wenzhou
program, increasing the
number of MS/OD students
to 10 over the next few years.
Later in 2012, Dr. Lu Fan
will embark on a neurological
study in collaboration with
researchers in MIT’s
department of brain and
cognitive science. The
three-way effort between
NECO, MIT, and Wenzhou
Medical School will examine
areas of the brain responsible
for losses in ocular perception.
“MIT has documented
these perceptual losses,
but lacks a well-organized
patient base,” says Dr. Thorn,
who spent three weeks last
June helping select that
patient base in China. “This
collaboration will maximize
China’s Wenzhou Medical College offers optometry and ophthalmology programs at the undergraduate, masters, and PhD levels.
Classrooms without borders
Each quarter, up to two NECO final-year students NECO professors visit China as well, to share their
are assigned to the three-month clinical rotation at expertise and expose students there to the NECO
WMC that includes practice in the Wenzhou eye approach. “At Wenzhou, undergraduates memorize
hospital. “Students learn not only about primary eye facts,” says Dr. Wang. “But at the PhD level, they
care and surgery, but also gain valuable insights into have the chance to learn methodologies and research
cultural differences in eye care practice and hospital methods from NECO instructors.”
management,” says Dr. Lu Fan.
“The involvement of our professors in the Wenzhou
While in China, NECO students also participate in program opens NECO to a world of new ideas
Wenzhou’s volunteer programs, traveling to remote and interests,” says Frank Thorn, OD ’79, the first
regions of the countryside to provide screenings and NECO professor to lecture at Wenzhou in 1992 and
arrange follow-up care for those requiring treatment. recently named director of international research and
“They have the opportunity to observe a unique group development. “When they come back, they’re even
of patients, immerse themselves in another culture, and better teachers than before, with insights about ways
deal with a variety of eye diseases,” says Dr. Lu Fan. to contribute to the future of the profession.”
SPHERES OF INFLUENCE | GLOBAL
the strengths of the
individual partners.”
In 2002, Dr. Lu Fan became the first MS/OD student
to take advantage of the newly established clinical
“We love this profession,” says Dr. Lu Fan, “and we’re
continually working together to make our college and
externship site at NECO. Since then, 16 Wenzhou
this program better.” Dr. Wang concurs. “Whatever our
students have taken their rotational turn in Boston. “In
ideas, we support and trust each other 100 percent.
China,” explains Dr. Wang, “very few optometrists give
”That shared commitment and mutual respect are what
ANNUAL REPORT 2011
Wenzhou city skyline
Dr. Scott delivers keynote address at the joint
China Optometry Academic Conference and
Beijing/Hong Kong Medical Exchange, 2011
a comprehensive eye exam. Here, they check everything
more thoroughly, and the Wenzhou students take that
knowledge back with them.”
make the NECO-WMS collaboration a success – one
with continued impact on the field of optometry and
the health of patients worldwide.
ANNUAL REPORT 2011
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